The Best at Home Hair Removal Techniques

Posted on February 28 2016

Our hair is glorious and lovely but often tends to pop up in the most unsightly places. Having smooth and flawless skin requires the removal of hair in various places of our body that include sensitive areas such as our bikini line and underarms or tougher areas such as our legs.

How you get rid of unwanted hair on your body is a matter of personal preference. Some of us prefer epilators and hot waxes while others consider it too painful to even consider for the limbs - let alone the extra sensitive bikini area.

Various methods work differently for different women. Unwanted hair on areas like your face, hands, feet, and bikini line is one of the primary cosmetic challenges faced by women across the globe. Many of the approaches to hair removal are a bit invasive, expectedly uncomfortable, and expensive while others are simple and complete the job with the least amount of fluff.

Here are a few of the very best home hair removal techniques for de-fuzzing that actually work, are comfortable, and relatively safe with a bit of care and effort.

Wet Shaving

Arguably the easiest and least time-consuming way of getting rid of unwanted hair in the confines of your home, shaving involves using a sharp razor to remove or cut off the hair at the surface of your skin.

Though wet shaving works better for light or fine hair, it is also the go-to option for all kinds of hair removal. Keep in mind that wet shaving requires you to use a really sharp razor if you want a super-smooth finish in no time. Some razors feature up to four blades for very close shaves and smooth skin.

Pros: It is a super quick home hair removal technique, painless, great for short-term hair removal, and is an inexpensive alternative to removing hair from your body in a pinch.

Cons: With wet shaving the hair follicle is undisturbed. Wet shaving removes hair easily, however, your skin quickly becomes prickly with new growth within a matter of days.

Wet Shaving Tips

Use a sharp fresh razor every shave.

Older razors are more likely to give you razor burns and cuts.

Instead of using a soap that dries your skin, use a hair shaving cream to soften the hair before wet shaving – it makes your hair easier to cut.

Electric Shaving

If you do not have steady hands and are worried about constant nicks and cuts, consider investing in an electric shaver instead. Electric shavers often provide you with the security you need to get a semi-close shave without worrying about the razor coming into direct contact with your skin.

Pros: The thin screen that covers the moving blades ensures that you do not get any cuts or nicks. While an electric shaver is more expensive than wet shaving razors, you save money in the long run.

Cons: The shave might not be as smooth as you like because the screen generally does not allow the blades to get as close to the skin as a razor allows.

Electric Shaving Tips

Invest in a good electric shaver which is compact and is able to be used with with water as well as while your skin is dry.

Maintain your shaver well with oils and regular cleaning to ensure its efficiency.

Epilators

Epilators are fitted with metal blades that rotate to lift and remove the hair from its root. This is often a solid choice for more tough areas of your body such as legs or arms while the more sensitive areas are more likely to experience irritation.

Pros: Epilators remove the hair from its roots which results in a hyper-smooth shave that lasts for approximately 6 weeks.

Cons: This method of hair removal is known to be quite painful and can cause irritation and ingrowths.

Epilators Tips

Some epilators have a pain reduction fixture which serves to numb the area slightly before epilating. If you have a low pain threshold but would still like to epilate, opt for one of these.

Do not epilate right before a swimming session or before going out into the sun.

Waxing

A one-size-fits-all method of hair removal at home, you are able to wax all areas of your body – including your arms, legs, underarms, upper lip, and bikini line. Wax is usually applied while it is warm in an effort to soften your hair and mold around each strand in preparation for removal.

Pros: This age-old method is highly efficient, particularly to get rid of unwanted dark and coarse hair. Depending on your hair growth cycle, a successful wax may last from 2 to 8 weeks. It is inexpensive, and the pain tends to reduce with each successive waxing session.

Cons: Waxing is known to be painful. If the wax used is too hot you may end up with burned and irritated skin.

Waxing Tips

Ensure that you exfoliate with a loofah every time you shower in order to prevent ingrowing hairs.

DIY home waxing strips are easy to use, but ensure that you pull the strip against the direction of the hair growth.

Depilatory Creams

Depilatory or hair removal creams dissolve the hair from a little below the surface so it can be wiped off clean. Some depilatory creams are uniquely designed for sensitive areas on your body such as your face or bikini line. It is important to follow the instructions on these creams for safe and successful hair removal results.

Pros: Affordable and easy to use, depilatory creams barely hurt.

Cons: Known to be messy, depilatory creams also have a pungent and offensive odor.

Depilatory Creams Tips

Smooth the cream over your skin - do not rub it in.

Follow the instructions carefully and ensure you do not leave the product on your skin for longer than recommended.

At Home Laser Treatment Gadgets

If you are looking for permanent hair removal or as close as possible to that, then laser hair removal may be the solution to your problem. In the past, laser or intense pulse of light (IPL) treatment could only be conducted at a professional’s office which meant paying through your nose for more than a few sittings. Today, there are a number of laser hair removal gadgets that you are easily able to use at home.

Pros: Specific hair removal lasers have been designed to work on specific areas of the body to ensure a smooth and de-fuzzed look that lasts forever. This means that hair removal lasers for your legs, bikini line, and underarms are designed to de-fuzz that specific area efficiently.

Cons: At home hair removal lasers are not as efficient per sitting as those used in professional offices. You may have to use the lasers every week for up to three months to get the same results. The devices are more expensive than other at home hair removal techniques. The process is a bit uncomfortable and some users describe the pain as being snapped by a hot elastic band.

Laser Hair Removal Tips

Getting rid of all your unwanted hair for good is a longer process with lasers, as you can only zap the hair when it is in its growth phase.

Do a patch test on each individual area you intend to laser.

Stay clear of lasers if you’ve been tanning (within 4 weeks), are pregnant or breastfeeding, or using medication and antibiotics that make your skin sensitive to light.

Laser hair removal tends to be less painful if the hair isn’t long, so consider shaving before you use the laser.

Skin Care Tips After Using Home Hair Removal Techniques

Even after ensuring that you avoid all the things that may cause irritation or sensitivity, it is possible that you may face some irritation. Here are a few simple care tips to make the process of hair removal easier on your skin in the long run.

When you shave or wax your hair away, your skin loses valuable moisture in the process. It is important to rehydrate your skin immediately to trap the moisture. Use coconut oil or moisturizers with ceramide, colloidal oatmeal, etc. to sooth and moisturize your skin. After waxing, you can also use baby powder to soothe the skin.

Stay away from hot baths, saunas and whirlpools after hair removal. When your skin gets hot, the pores tend to swell up and clog. A cool shower or lukewarm bath is a much better idea.

Ensure that you are done with your workout or exercise routine before you wax or shave. Depending on the area you are waxing or shaving, tight clothing and high impact movements may cause bumps and rashes on your sensitive skin.

If your skin remains sensitive even after a couple of days post shaving or waxing, and you feel like you may have a burn, speak to a healthcare professional about using a cortisone cream (a mild 1 percent is recommended).

Exfoliate your skin to prevent ingrown hairs.

If you are concerned about the pain from waxing or other hair removal techniques, do not wax during or around your menstruation dates. Due to extra blood flow and hormonal shifts, the pain from hair removal may be much higher during that time of the month.

Follow the instructions carefully, irrespective of which hair removal technique you use. For example, while waxing at home, ensure that you pull the skin tight in the direction opposite to the one you are ripping the strip in. Not doing so could result in deep bruises.

There is no single best way to get rid of unwanted hair for good. Try all of them or choose one for your own at home hair removal techniques. Consider your pain tolerance, your budget, as well as the sensitivity of your skin and remember to hydrate your skin at all times.

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About the Author

Sasithon Bella is the kewl in The Kewl Shop. Co-founder, chief buyer, bandage dress guru and a lot more. If you like what you see at The Kewl Shop it is because of Sasithon Bella. You might know her better as Sasi.